the Fakir, “Then, O Darwaysh, we divided the meat (I and the gaoler) with our fingers, and we washed it and set it upon the hearth, building a fire beneath it until it was cooked, when we took it off, and after waiting awhile dished it up and were about to eat it.  But it happened to be noon-tide, and the hour of incumbent orisons, so we said, ’Let us pray our prayers;’ and we arose and made the Wuzu-ablution, and went through the mid-day devotions.  After this we set the plate before us; and I, removing its cover, put forth my hand to take up a bit of meat, but as I took it, behold, a mouse passed over that same morsel with its tail and paws[FN#341].  I cried, ’There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great!  I have divided this meat with my own hand and have cooked it myself, so how could this matter have occurred?  How ever, Allah the Omniscient haply knoweth that the stumbling stone hath been removed from my path,’ and this I said, for when I saw that mouse do on such wise I felt that glad news and good tidings were coming from the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth.  So I sent to my home and informed them that the Sultan was satisfied with me, for things when at their worst mend, and in joyance end; and I opine, O Darwaysh, that all my troubles have now ceased.”  Said to him the Fakir, “Alhamdolillah—­ Glory be to God—­O my lord, who hath sent thee forerunners of welfare.”  Then he arose from beside the Wazir, and went forth and ceased not wending until he came to his palace where he doffed his disguise and donned the garments of the Kings, and taking seat upon the throne of his Kingship summoned the Wazir from his gaol in all joy, and set him between his hands and gifted him with sumptuous gifts.  And all displeasure in the Sultan’s heart being removed from the Wazir he committed to him once more the management of all his affairs[FN#342].  But when Ibn Ahyam (continued Shahrazad) had ended his history of the Righteous Wazir he presently began to tell the tale of

The Cairene youth, the barber, and the
captain.

It is related that in Misr there was a Youth, a Shalabi,[FN#343] sans peer for semblance and excellence, and he had to friend a lovely woman whose husband was a Yuzbashi[FN#344] or captain.  Now whenever that young man or his playmate would fain conjoin, each with other, union proved almost impossible and yet his heart was always hanging to her love and she was in similar state and even more enamoured for that he was passing fair of form and feature.  One day of the days the Captain returned home and said to his wife, “I am invited to such a place this afternoon, therefore an thou require aught ask it of me ere I go.”  Cried they,[FN#345] “We want nothing save thy safety;” yet were they delighted therewith, and the youth’s friend said, “Alhamdolillah—­Glory to God—­this day we will send to a certain person and bring him hither and we will make merry